A76157:156
Confirmation and restoration the necessary means of reformation, and reconciliation; for the healing of…Confirmation and restauration the necessary means of reformation, and reconciliation; for the healing of…
Confirmation and restoration the necessary means of reformation, and reconciliation; for the healing of the corruptions and divisions of the churches: submissively, but earnestly tendered to the consideration of the sovereign powers, magistrates, ministers, and people, that they may awake, and be up and doing in the execution of so much, as appeareth to be necessary as they are true to Christ, his Church and Gospel, and to their own and others souls, and to the peace and welfare of the nations; and as they will answer the neglect to Christ, at their peril. / By Richard Baxter, an unworthy minister of Christ, that longeth to see the healing of the churches.Confirmation and restauration the necessary means of reformation, and reconciliation; for the healing of the corruptions and divisions of the churches: submissively, but earnestly tendered to the consideration of the soveraigne powers, magistrates, ministers, and people, that they may awake, and be up and doing in the execution of so much, as appeareth to be necessary as they are true to Christ, his Church and Gospel, and to their own and others souls, and to the peace and wellfare of the nations; and as they will answer the neglect to Christ, at their peril. / By Richard Baxter, an unworthy minister of Christ, that longeth to see the healing of the churches.
London: printed by A.M. for Nevil Simmons book-seller, 1658
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Arg. 9. It is plainly expressed in the Ministers Commission, that he is to approve of the Profession of Disciples: therefore it belongeth to his Office, Matth. 28. 19. Go Disciple all Nations, baptizing them—teaching them to observe all things— Which plainly manifesteth, that it's they that must judge, when a man is made a Disciple, and when not, or else how can they either Baptize them as such, or teach them the Precepts of Christ as such? So when he giveth to his servants the Key's of the Kingdom, Matth. 18, &c. it showeth that they are to judge who is to be admitted, and who not, as is aforesaid: or else he would never have set them at the door, and made them the Porters, and Key-bearers of his Church, to let men in.
Arg. 9. It is plainly exprest in the Ministers Commission, that he is to approve of the Profession of Disciples: therefore it belongeth to his Office, Matth. 28. 19. Go Disciple all Nations, baptizing them—teaching them to observe all things— Which plainly manifesteth, that it's they that must judge, when a man is made a Disciple, and when not, or else how can they either Baptize them as such, or teach them the Precepts of Christ as such? So when he giveth to his servants the Key's of the Kingdom, Matth. 18, &c. it sheweth that they are to judge who is to be admitted, and who not, as is aforesaid: or else he would never have set them at the door, and made them the Porters, and Key-bearers of his Church, to let men in.
Arg. 10. No man in the Administration of holy Ordinances, is ordinarily to renounce his own Reason and Conscience, and to act ⟨p. 60⟩against them. But thus it would be if we have not the approving of the Profession, or Qualification of those that we must administer them to: Therefore—He that is to Execute here is to judge: For 1. Else you will force Ministers to go against their Reason, and Conscience in all administrations. 2. You will deny them so much as Judicium Discretionis, which you allow to every Christian, much more Judicium Directionis, which belongeth to their Office. Every man must judge and understand what he doth, and why he doth it: you will not force the people to participate of Sacraments, against their Consciences. Why then should Ministers be forced to Give them against their Consciences? Administering is their work: and therefore they must know why they do it, and on what grounds: Else you will make them but like hangmen, or worse, if they must do Execution against their judgments, because it is another's judgment. And whose judgment is it, that we must follow, when we go against our own?